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Uranium Corporation of India LimitedBanduhurang Open Cast Mine

Introduction

Banduhurang Open Cast Mine is the first open cast Uranium Mine in India. Heremining operation is done by Uranium Corporation ofIndia Limited.

LOCATION

Uranium mineralisation is bounded betweenLatitude 22° 43' IS" to 22° 43' 45"Longitude 86° 9' 45" to 86° 11' 30" Survey ofIndia Topo sheet No. 73 J / 2.The deposit is situated 6 km. south of Tatanagar railway Station, under Dhalbhum subdivison ofE. Singhbhum Dist. Jharkhand.Physiographically the region is marked with three prominent ridges E-W& NW-SWtrend. They are Talsa Pahar, Nandup & Banduhurang.

GEOLOGY

Regional geology:-

Banduhurang mine is located at Singhbhum thrust belt which is well know for poly-metallic' mineralisation mainly copper uranium mineralisation. At - Banduhurang,mineralisation is mostly confined within chlorite schist. The quartzite/ sericite bandoverlying the Cu - U mineralisation over the whole stretch of STB from Rakha- Jadugudain the east to Mohuldih on the west considered as a marker horizon for locating uraniummineralisation. The quartzlsericite schist is overlain by Mica schist. A thin band ofTalcose- sericite schist has been reported below the mineralized chlorite schist which ismarked by end of mineralization (barrier of radioactive mineral). The bottom most rockslike conglomerates, quartzites with metabasics are represented by Dhanjori group offormation. Basement Singhbhum granite are exposed at south (Rajdoha village).

Succession (by AMDt...:

Soda graniteMica schistQuartzite /sericite schistMeta graywake (quartz granular rock) chlorite schistTalcose sericite schistBanded quarzite with /with out magnetiteConglomerate & metabasics.Singhbhurn granite.

Local geology:-

At Banduhurang uranium mineralisation is found at the horizon of chlorite schisthorizon is bounded by arkosic rocks on south and northern boundary is not so welldefined due to soil cover.

At the upper band of chlorite schist small bands & patches of feldspathic schist andsilicified schist /quartzite are present discontinuous.

Structures-

The cross folds affect Turamdih and the neighboring area with a trend of WNW toESE having asymmetrical fold limb. Steeper limbs dip 70° to vertical & other dip from10° to 45°, both limbs dip northwards. Plunge ofthe folds is to the east.

The transverse thrust fault at the eastern side causing dislocation and up throw thecontinuity of mineralisation further east wards.

Joint: -

Three set of joints47° towards N 28°65° towards N 118°81° towards N 297°

Common radioactive mineral is Uraninite, occurs as descrete grains in three differentmodes: -

1. As inclusion in single flakes of chlorite.JI. In the folia ofphyllosilicates &Ill. As large grains

Shape - Rounded, Oval, & irregular outlines. Mostly associated with chloriteand less with quartz.

Other radioactive mineralsr->- geothite, epidot.Accessory minerals: - Sulphides (Chalcopyrite, Pyrite, Bornite), Oxides (Magnetite,Limonite), Silicates (Epidote, Tourmaline), Titanium rich mineral (Ilmenite, Rutile,Sphene, Anatase) etc.

On toe basis of lithology it is difficult to demarcate the Uranium horizon fromnon uranium bearing rocks except that the uranium mineralisation is always bottomedby talc - sericite schist.

By - M.S.Alam & B.R.Paul